Thank you guys, for the response in the last chapters.

So....as promised....here's the update. And a looong one too.

Target for the next update- 440 votes and 100 comments.

Till then......enjoy...

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Nandini's pov

Have you ever felt like you got a very precious thing, but before you cherish it, you lost it? You craved for that, your whole life. You thought that God was cruel for not giving you what you want. But you know what? God proved to be crueller. He gave you the thing you wanted. But just for a blink of and eye. Then suddenly something happened and BOOM! It vanished!

Believe me.....the feeling is terrible.....

I am feeling the same right now.

Flashback

I opened my eyes to see myself in a hospital room with IV attached to my left hand. I looked around to find Aliya and Navya sitting on the sofa and Manik sitting beside me.

" Jaan.. You feeling okay?", Manik asked with concern, running his hands in my hair. I nodded and closed my eyes to remember how I ended up here.

Flashes of me being kidnapped, then getting to know about Naveen, he trying to kill me, I shooting at his arm, Manik's entry, the fight, Naveen getting arrested, I hearing his voice.......he wanted to kill me........then I heard the sound of a gunshot.....and........SHIT!

He was shot!

He....he...Viv.....Da....Dadda was shot!

My eyes flew open with a jerk. I suddenly felt very restless. All that he confessed.....everything came back in front of my eyes.... tears fell down without my notice.

" Hey.....hey Shona. What's happened? Are you feeling pain somewhere? Is your head paining?" I could hear Manik's worried voice. Even Navya and Aliya rushed to me asking what happened, as I immediately started getting up.

" Dadda....Dadda?", I was contiously blabbering asking them what happened to him and they were trying to stop me from detaching the IV.

Being a surgeon, I know very well, the proper way of taking out the IV needle. But today, there was some unknown restlessness in me. Nothing was feeling right. I felt as if everything was once again slipping away from my hands. And I pulled away the needle so harshly that blood came out from the back of my palm.

" Shona!", Manik shouted and the three rushed to me. Manik immediately held my hand and tried to stop me. But I pushed him away and shouted at the top of my voice.

" Where is my Dadda? Where is he? Tell me. Now!", I swear I was looking very dangerous at that time, as I could see even The Manik Malhotra getting scared and backing off. " OT 2", Navya uttered meekly and that was it. I rushed out like a mad person, followed by the three.

I ran through the corridor towards OT2. Reaching there I saw my whole family sitting outside with tensed faces. Dadi was sobbing badly and Mom(Neyo) and AvuMaa were trying to console her. Niharika aunty was sitting at a corner, lifelessly. How much ever she detested him, the fact was still the same that she loved him with all her heart.

Everyone looked at me and then at my bleeding hand. Bhai, BB and Jeevi Di immediately rushed to me asking what happened.

" Where is Dadda?", I asked and everyone looked a bit surprised seeing me call him with the name I used years back. Bhai pointed towards the operation theatre and I looked at the lighted bulb.

I am a doctor. I can barge into the OT and check on him. But I didn't. You know why?

Because I was scared. Being an experienced surgeon, somewhere I knew what is gonna happen. The position of the bullet and his condition. I knew the consequence. But for the first time, I didn't want to think using my medical knowledge. I didn't want to think about that particular consequence.

I was scared......

Manik came and hugged me. He consoled me that everything will be fine. And I kept the hope in me. He made me sit and gave me a glass of water. Navya came with a small kit and started dressing my hand.

We sat there for a long time. It was already 7 in the morning and the operation was still going on. I was impatiently waiting for Dr. Shukla to come out and report. The feeling of restlessness inside me, was increasing.

Suddenly the light of the bulb went off we all stood alert. The doctor came out and we rushed to him with all our hope. But what he said snatched the floor beneath my feet.......yet once again.

" The bullet had pierced very near to his heart. His body was already very weak and the blood loss just made it worse. There were internal bleedings at many places. We tried our best. But we couldn't do anything.", he said and my body stiffened. Is this for real? Why? Dadi burst into loud sobs, hugging Mom.

" He doesn't have much time left. He wants to meet his family and some Parosh Sir.", Dr. Shukla said and everyone looked at each other. AnjuMaa nodded and she took Pa and Dadu Dadi into the room. DaBhai supported Nanu and gestured him to go in. Niharika aunty was taken in by Kumudh Bhabi.

But I was stilled at my place. I didn't know what to do.

So many years of my life, I blamed him and cursed him for killing my Mamma. I threw so many harsh words at him. I even beat him so badly that day at Murthy Mansion.

But that man.........he still loved me. He loved me so much, that he came infront to take the bullet on himself? Just to save me?

I felt as a criminal. I felt myself responsible for his death. It was for me only that he went through so much. Just to keep me safe.

How will I face him? No...no... I can't. Because of me, he is at his death bed now.

Death bed?

He is gonna d.....he is gonna leave me forever?

Didn't he claim to love me? So why is he leaving me now?

No no no....this can't happen.....

Manik shook me to bring me back to the world and I looked at him with blank eyes. Tears were flowing mercilessly and I didn't have enough strength in me to wipe them.

Bhai came from the other side. Both the men entwined their hands with me from either sides and gave me assuring nods. I suddenly found courage rushing back into me and I looked up at the door of the OT.

Bhai and Manik led me into the room. I stopped at the door for a moment, taking a deep breath. I didn't know how to face him. But I knew one thing. I have to meet him. I have to meet him once and tell him how much I love him.

We walked in to see Dadi hugging him and muttering incoherent pleadings to not leave her.

I looked at him. He looked so weak. Just like a defeated man. His breathing had slowed down and he had no energy left in him.

I have seen worse than this, many times. But today I couldn't even take in the sight. My insides curled. Every inch of my body and mind pained to see him like this. I gripped Manik and Bhai's hands tightly to control myself from falling weak once again.

I heard him muttering sorries to everyone and my heart lurched inside. This man was in his worst shape now and he still has the heart to say sorry? I felt guilt rush inside me for ever hating him.

" Niharika. I always loved you with all my heart. I am so sorry for whatever I did with you. I was forced. I hurt you so much. Please forgive me.", he pleaded and Niharika Aunty went stiff. She wasn't moving an inch from her position. She had clutched Dadda's hand in her death grip fearing that he would disappear if she leaves his hand.

" Bhai.", he called softly to Pa and he held his hands immediately, tears flowing from his eyes painfully, seeing his baby brother in this condition. " I am sorry for everything Bhai. I was a fool to not trust you. But believe me Bhai. I love you. I love you a lot.", he said in a very painful voice. He was struggling hard to utter something and that gave me more pain. It was just because of me. Just because of me, he is here.

Pa sobbed hard hearing him and shook his head in no before bending down to kiss his forehead. I saw relief spreading on his face feeling his Bhai's affection after so long.

His eyes fell on me and he smiled widely. He gestured me to go near him. But I found myself stuck at the place. I couldn't move my legs. Sudden nervousness, fear, regret, guilt and don't know how many emotions clouded upon me and I found myself taking steps back from him in fear. His eyebrows twitched inwards as he got confused with my behaviour but suddenly his expression turned into that of grimace. And I exactly knew why. He still thinks I didn't forgive him and my actions now were proving his doubts.

I cursed myself again for scaring him at this moment and took slow steps towards him after gathering all the courage I had in me. I reached near him and he looked up at me with expectant eyes. " Dadda.", I wishpered softly to him and his face suddenly lightened up. " What did you say?", he asked unsure of having heard the endearing I used for him years back.

I gulped back my tears and held his hand and again wishpered, " Dadda.....I...I..Love you. ", and that was it. We both burst into tears. I hugged him and sobbed hard. I felt him sniffing and sometimes letting out painful sobs.

Others were crying seeing us. Feeling the need to give us our privacy, they silently walked out of the room.

" Please don't leave me Dadda. I...I love you. Please don't go away. I need you in my life.", I cried holding him close. I was feeling miserable. I got him after such a long struggle and now I can't imagine him leaving me again. He kept on caressing my hair softly though I know that was very difficult for him owing to his current condition.

" I have to go Princess. I can't stay now. I want to be free now. I know I am being selfish here, but I want to free myself from this world of sufferings.", he said stammering a bit. His voice came out painful as he was struggling to speak amidst all the pain and that pierced my heart once again.

" But you are not at fault. You will not suffer. Naveen is caught. ", I complained. I know I was being childish here. Even I knew it wasn't possible for him to survive after the stroke, but my heart wasn't ready to accept this truth and was making all the efforts to keep him with me.

He chuckled lightly but then whinced in pain. I immediately reached out for water but he denied. " Do you really think so Princess? If I live now, I will be arrested and put into life imprisonment for getting involved with mafias and drugs bussiness. There's no way out of it than this Princess. Tell me, do you want to see me in more pain for a lifetime?", he asked and I frantically nodded in no. I would never in my dreams think about him in pain ever again. He smiled widely making my heart flutter. It was something I always wanted to see. And now that I am getting this priviledge, sorrow gripped my heart, thinking about the fact that it was maybe the last time.

" So please let me go.", he uttered through that smile of his and my insides broke completely.

I broke down completely infront of him and he kept on caressing my hairs. I was continuosly blabbering to him. Pleading him not to leave. But he kept silent knowing that it was not possible. His pulse was slowly going down and his breathing fell short. And he knew his end was near.

" Princess.", he called me softly in between his short breathes.

I was panicking seeing him like this. I wanted to rush to call the doctor. But he held my hand in so much of urgency that it made me rooted to the place.

" Princess. Promise me something. I know I don't need to tell you this seeing what you are today. You have always proved yourself to be Sunaina Murthy's daughter. She was one who never let her steps falter and always walked on the path of righteaousness. Always follow her path and never commit a mistake like me. ", he said and I nodded. His breath became more forced and he started panting hard. His whole body was in pain and I could feel it. I shouted for the doctor and was about move out when he stopped me.

" Listen to me. I don't have time.", he said and I frantically shook my head.

" Princess. Ple...ease do one thing f
....for me. Go to my ro..room in my m...mansion. There is a bl...black drawer to the right of the cup...cupboard. Open it and you'll find something for you. Pl...please.", he said within his heavy breaths and I nodded. My whole body tensed when he made desperate attempts to breath. I yelled and screamed for doctor and found everyone rushing inside followed by Dr. Shukla. Niharika Aunty rushed and held his other hand. She was crying hard and this was the first time she cried after she heard about him.

" I...I...love y..you both.", and I felt him clutch my hand tight for a moment before it went limp and he lay there lifeless.

Flashback over

" Shona. We reached.", Manik's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I looked around through the window to see a huge and beautiful mansion. I never came here. Never. I looked at the board and again my heart pained seeing ' SN Mansion' written over it and my mind drifted to the time when he explained the meaning of SN to me.

My thoughts came to a halt when Manik knocked at my window. That was when I realised that he had already got out and was now standing outside gesturing me to come out.

I sighed and stepped out of the car. My insides pained to see that place where my father once lived. Even though I had never been here before, I felt his presence in the air and that made me sigh sadly.

It had been 15 days since he left us all. In all these days I locked myself in my room crying and repenting all my faults in hating him. Manik tried to talk to me in these days but I wasn't ready. I was feeling miserable and I didn't wan't to share this with anyone. He understood that I needed some time and gave me space. Finally today I gathered courage and asked him to drive me here.

Manik held my hand softly and gave me an assuring smile and we walked in. I found some of the butlers there talking to each other. They have heard of everything that happened as Shrishti had got everything aired live and we saw some different level of respect for Dadda in them when they by themselves came for witnessing his last rites and paying him last tributes. They said they were proud of having worked for a man who gave up his own life to save his daughter.

They smiled at us when we walked in and one of them led us upstairs to a big door which was slightly closed. I assumed it to be his room.

My steps froze suddenly. Fear gripped my heart. Will I be able to do this? Guilt had not left me from the day he got shot. I couldn't come to the point of making myself accept the truth that he left me forever. All kinds of bad emotions had engulfed me completely in them and I was slowly loosing myself. But I decided to have courage and face it. This is what he would have wanted me to do right?

I tightened my grip on Manik's hand in order to gain confidence. As if sensing my inner turmoil, he wrapped his hand around my shoulders and slightly pressed it to show that he was with me no matter what.

He opened the door and taking a deep breath, we stepped in. The room was beautiful. It was elegant and classy giving a hint of his personality.

B

ut the only thing that made me cringe was, it was all dark. It somewhat portrayed his life which was so dark. Devoid of any reality. Everything....just a facade.

The door opened to a kind of a living room where I assumed meetings with important bussiness clients took place. There was a door which led to the main bedroom.

We walked through it to enter another dark world. I felt his presence when I saw around.

My gaze fell on the broken glass table in the blacony. I moved towards it to see dried blood there and I suddenly remembered him having a bandage around his right hand when I met him in that room.

My insides lurched at the sight. He had hurt himself just the night before? He was regretting that time too? I looked around to see the first aid box lying on the bed and the bandage roll on the ground. Maybe he had done his dressing himself. This again gave me an immense pain. Everyone had left him alone. Why? He was not at fault.

I felt like crying hard. But no tears left my eyes today. Maybe the tanks in my eyes had exhausted with a fortnight of continuous crying.

Manik gestured me towards his closet and I moved in to see a black drawer on its right. I took baby steps towards it. Manik was standing at the door of the closet wanting to give me space but still assuring me with his presence.

I walked up to the drawer and kneeled in front of it. My hands were shivering. I was in a dilemma if I should open it or not.

" Princess. Ple...ease do one thing f
....for me. Go to my ro..rom in my m...mansion. There is a bl...black drawer to the right of the cup...cupboard. Open it and you'll find something for you. Pl...please."

His words rang in my ears and I reached out to open it. It was kind of a big safe which opened up to reveal many things.

There was a box above which was a packet and a note. I took the note with my shivering hands and gazed at it.

My Princess

If you are reading this note, it means I'm already no more in this world. I am so happy that you believed in me once and came to find this.

I always loved you a lot princess. You are my daughter. How can I ever think of harming you? But you know what? You always suffered, all because of me.

Trust me princess, I never wanted you to suffer. Now that I am no more, I want you to know the truth. The whole truth of what happened. Please read the next note. It has everything in it.

Your Dadda

The note was enough to bring those tears back in my eyes. But this time I didn't let them fall knowing how weak they are gonna make me in this particular situation.

I took the second note that lied just below the first one and read it. It contained everything that he had told me that day when we were tied up together. I think he never expected to meet me. Thats why he wrote everything in this note.

There was another paper lying and I picked it up to see what it contained.

My Princess

Do you remember some of your things getting lost suddenly from your house when you were a kid?

Look into the box to know.

Yours Dadda.

My eyebrows narrowed in confusion and I reached out for the box. Lifting the packet that was kept over it, I pulled out the box and looked into it.

The contents overwhelmed me. A wide smile broke on my face as I ran my hands over the contents. I never really realised all this being stolen from our house. But today I realised how much I had loved these things as a kid.

I looked at Manik who was confused yet happy seeing my smile. I gestured him to come to me and he walked up to me. Kneeling beside me he looked into the box and his expressions changed to amused one. " These are so cute!", he exclaimed softly and I chuckled between my tears. I pulled out a small packet from the box and emptied it on my lap making Manik go all awe on its contents.

"

These are all your clothes?", he asked and I nodded. Indeed these were the clothes I wore when I was a baby. Although I don't remember them, I have photos of me wearing them and I bet I looked too cute in these. The napkin was so sweet! I felt overwhelmed thinking that he kept these with him. My gaze fell on another beautiful dress and I pulled it out.

"

This is amazing!", Manik exclaimed and I smiled seeing him getting excited like a kid. " This is the dress I wore for my fifth birthday. He had bought this for me and I was so happy that day. He literally treated me like a princess.", I said with tears glistening in my eyes and Manik held my hand assuringly.

I looked inside again and chuckled a little seeing another thing.

"

You know Manik? Once when I was 4, Abhi threw this teddy on the floor and I was so angry on him. Mamma said that I was so concerned for my teddy that I bandaged it immediately using Mamma's medical kit and put a thermometer to check if it had fever. And you know what? After that I forgot about it. See, the thermometer is still there.", I said dreamily, remembering when Mamma told me about that incident. But I never thought Dadda would preserve it in the same condition.

" Hey! What's this? ", I looked at Manik as he shouted while pulling out something from the box and the next moment I was laughing like hell.

"

Hahaa! Actually once Abhi broke my toy baby. I got angry and broke his toy dinosaur. Then when we were fighting among each other, Dadda came and said that he would fix it all. And then by mistake, he pasted this dinosaur head on the baby and the baby's head on the dinosaur. It was so hilarious. I was fuming at him. And to compensate, he got the dinosaur's meat piece and pasted it to the baby's hand.", I was laughing while remembering the the event. The toy really did look very wierd. But still he preserved it.

Manik laughed along with me. After some time, we composed ourselves and looked into the box for more.

" Look Manik! My toy cup plate. I usrd to make tea with water and paint and then serve it to Dadda.", I said and pulled out the toy. It had so many memories.

T

hen I took out my toy stethoscope. I was always interested to be a doctor right from the childhood.

"

See these. These pom poms are so cute. ", Manik said and took it out. I laughed at it. " Manik, they are not pom poms. They are shoes. ", I said highly amused but he decided to ignore and gave me a grin. " But they make the sound of Pom Pom when pressed na. They are so cute.", he gushed like a kid and I couldn't help but admire him.

I pulled out my first diary. It was gift from him on my sixth birthday and I used to scribble anything and everything on it.

The last thing in the box made tears fall out mercilessly. It was so painful to think that he preserved every moment of my life. It was a baby album.

A

note was stuck to it.

This is where I stored every memory of you. It is my personal album containing most of your moments when I was with you.

I so regret the days I couldn't spend with you. But this always kept me sane.

I wiped my tears and opened the album. Manik also looked into it and went all awe seeing the pictures.

He suddenly kissed my cheek and I looked at him with an amused smile.

" You are still the same. The cutest kid. ", he said and kissed the tip my nose and I chuckled at his cuteness.

We looked at the pictures in the album for a long time. And going through it, I realised how he has beautifully preserved every memory of mine. These things just radiate his love for me and suddenly I felt low when I realised that he was no more with me.

I wished I had known his reality earlier. I so wished I had time with him to cherish. I so wished he hadn't come in front to take the bullet that day. I so miss him now.

Manik sensed my thoughts and wrapped his hands around me. I rested my head on his chest to find some relief from the pain that gripped my heart.

My gaze fell on the packet that I had moved from the top of the box. I gestured Manik to get it and he pulled it from the side and kept it infront of me.

I opened the packet only to gasp.

It was a beautiful pastel lehenga. Looking at it, I realised that it was a bridal lehenga. The design was so inticrate and the material so soft! It was seriously the most beautiful bridal lehenga I have ever seen.

Manik pointed at the note that was stuck to the packet and I opened it immediately.

Princess

I know you are very proud of your mother. Even I am. She was a lady I always admired. Courageous and firm. Never letting anyone divert her from the path of righteousness.
And I am so proud that you are just like her.

But Princess, she once did a mistake. She fell for me. She chose me above her family. It was the biggest mistake of her life and it cost her so much.

The only thing I want to tell you is, always take your decisions only after thinking about its pros and cons. You should always know what and whom to prioritise. Never commit the mistake that your parents once committed. Our mistakes ruined our life. I don't want you to suffer from something like us.

You have always made me proud. You stood up on your own feet. Made yourself so strong that no one can even put a finger on you. And I m so proud of you for choosing Manik as your life partner. He is the best for you Princess. He loves you so much and it reflects in his eyes. Never leave his side ever Baby. Trust is the most important thing in any relationship and always make sure you don't let each other's trust falter.

When you were a kid, you used to ask me when will I get a Prince for you. That time I promised you that I will get a Prince for my Princess and make everything special for you. But see my fate. I can't keep my promise.

But this is the least I can do for you Baby. This bridal lehenga is specially designed by me. Well, I am not a fashion designer, but I asked my friend to prepare it the way I wanted.

It has Sunaina!s wedding saree stitched to it. I wanted you to have both of our's blessings with you on your big day. I so hope you like it. I can't  imagine how beautiful you'll look in it. Just like a princess. My princess.

I am so unfortunate. I couldn't pamper you in this life. I couldn't make you feel my love.

But I pray to God that he gives you as my daughter in the next birth as well. And I promise. I will love you, pamper you. You will be only my princess.

Your Dadda

I was sobbing hard after reading the note. Manik was continuously rubbing my back to calm me down.

I took the lehenga and caressed it to feel the presence of my parents. It hurts so much to know that both of them are never gonna return to me.

After some time I had composed myself and was caressing the things when Manik got a call and went out of the closet to attend it.

I found two envelope lying there. I picked them up and found one to be some official papers and the other had something written on it.

I kept the official envelope in my bag to hand it over to Niharika Aunty later,  and picked up the other one to find what it was. On the envelope it was written,

Princess

This is for Soha. I need to apologise to her for so many things and I have many things to tell her. Will you please give it to her?

I nodded as if he was infront of me and kept the envelope safely in my bag.

Just then Manik came in with a tensed face and what he said made me numb again.

" Soha tried to kill herself."

So.....a long chapter.....

I know many of you are upset at Vivek's death. But please try to understand. Do you think he would have ever got peace if he lived?

He had already suffered a lot. He had enough of punishments. He doesn't deserve anything more.

The best thing was that he was happy when he died. He was free of all accusations and hatred. He was free. I think he deserved a happy ending like this.

What do you think about Vivek's secret treasure?

Nandini's pain?

Niharika?

The bridal lehenga?

What do you think happened to Soha?

Do you think Nandini will clear everything with Soha? Will Soha accept her?

Keep thinking and comment here.

Till the next chapter then.

Stay safe

Stay healthy

Yours writer.